OPUNAKE HOSPITAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 17 February 1921, Page 5

OPUNAKE HOSPITAL

MATTER AGAIN DISCUSSED BY TARANAK3 BOARD.

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY

The position as affecting the proposal to erect a cottage hospital at Opunake was again gone into at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board, when a report was received from a special committee which sat last week, recommending that Messrs' M. Fraser (chairman) and M. O'Brien be a deputation to interview the Prime Minister at Wellington to secure assistance. It will be recalled that the board secured an estimate for the work which indicated that the erection could* be done at a cost of £2800, and they accordingly made provision to this extent. When tenders were called, however, the lowest received was £4800 a difference of £2000, and for this reason the board did not feel inclined to go on with the scheme, in fact the Department had intimated that they could not. approve of paying subsidy on the additional amount. When the sub-committee's report was received yesterday the chairman reviewed the position and also touched on tbe state of the finances. He stated that the limit of the Board's overdraft ' was £2500. The, overdraft already stood at £1938, which meant that they had only £562 to draw on from this source. "It is just as well, therefore," said the speaker, "that the public and contributing bodies should know exactly how much money we have to spend." With regard to the raising of loan moneys, Mr. Fraser quoted letters from the Department, in which strict economy was urged. In January the Director-General (Dr. Valintine) wrote.: "Boards [ should not commit themselves to any capital expenditure, unless they see their way clear to obtain the necessary funds to meet such expenditurue. The raising of Joan moneys is at present a. difficult V undertaking, and it is understood that the Public Trustee is, for the time being, fully -committed, and therefore it cannot be taken as a certainty that iunds can be obtained from that office. Whilst, therefore, the Department will as heretofore, continue to point out the desirability of capital -expenditure I wherever necessary for the efficiency [of an institution, yet s uch will always | imply that the boards should be sure' I that arrangements can be made for financing sucix undertakings.'' ' I . Witn .reference to the Oounake nos- - I pital, a letter was read from Dr. Wylie, jin charge.of buildings, under date January 25, which stated: "I am instructed to advise you that, owing to the disparity between the estimated cost of ' the above hospital and the lowest tender received, your Board will be well advised to defer the matter of building this hospital at the present time, unless, as you suggest, the people of the district concerned are inclined to guarantee the difference between the two sums in question." The chairman said that in view of the position he did not think that any .." good_ would come of sending him to Wellington with the Opunake deputation, as the Board could not make any. further offers. The trouble had come with the difficulties of the period,; he said, and peoplo must realise that. The Board could not accept the tender at'", the increased price, because they had no money. No one had more sympathy for the Opunake people than himself, and he was sure that all the members desired to see that the people of that district .got justice, but they could not see their way to recommend an additional £2000 expenditure. "' •tfP^as stated that one contractor, on Dei-fig asked for an estimate of the cost of the hospital on a 10 per cent, basis, put the amount down at £5800. This represents an increase of £3000 on the original estimate of £2800 made by the architects last April and confirmed at . fchlTiatter end of last year. Mr. M. O'Brien accused the Board of attempting to shuffle. He strongly urged that the chairman should back up the deputation of Opunake representatives. He . pointed out' that the Opunake people had raised £400 in the early stages, and had collected since a another £200, which was lying at the bank. He stressed the need of a hospitalin the district. v The chairman said it was not a question of stubbornness, but merely that the Board did not have the money. Personally he was quite prepared to proceed with the deputation if it was the wish of the Board. After discussion it was decided to confirm the arrangement that the chairman and Mr. O'Brien form a deputation to interview -the Prime Minister in company with other delegates from Opunake.—News.